Mobile device sales to grow 8.5% next year: Gartner

Mumbai: The sale of mobile devices in India will grow 8.5 per cent in 2012 to 231 million units from 213 million units last year, according to a research report from Gartner. The research firm says that the Indian mobile handset market is expected to show steady growth through 2015 when end-user sales will surpass 322 million units. The Indian mobile device market is very competitive with more than 150 manufacturers. “The big global brands will continue to face competition from local and Chinese brands as some of these brands are building capabilities to compete at a larger level, covering broader consumer segments,” said Mr Anshul Gupta, principal research analyst at Gartner. Moreover, mobile manufacturers are also competing against many brands in the black markets that are being sold without invoices, according to a press statement from Gartner. Smartphone sales in India made up 6 per cent of device sales in the first three quarters of 2011, and this share is expected to increase to 8 per cent in 2012. The Indian mobile device market is driven by the lowest call rates in the world and dominated by low-cost devices, which account for 75 per cent of sales in India in 2011, the statement said.